I admit to being one of those ...
John Stamos, ER
Question: I admit to being one of those who, for the last season or two, watched
ER solely out of
habit. However, I am psyched at the prospect of
John Stamos being a regular cast member next season, and I am eagerly awaiting next season. Do you expect that the casting of John will pull the show out of its "funk" and re-entice some of the viewers who think it's jumped the shark?
Answer: It can't hurt. I know I was sorely disappointed when ABC's inexplicable renewal (to little effect) of
Jake in Progress kept him off the show during a season that could have really used him. I just hope he doesn't succumb to the same ailment that has befallen so many promising actors (
Linda Cardellini,
Parminder Nagra,
Shane West,
Kristen Johnston) who join the cast and are almost immediately sapped of appealing personality traits.
Coming to ER's defense is Phil S., who writes: "I'm tired of people bashing shows just because they've been on the air for a while. If anybody actually sat down and watched ER without this predetermined bias that age = boring, they might find that the show still has a lot of creativity to offer. The last new episode, directed by Laura Innes, is a fine example. How she showed us that the assumed carjacker was actually deaf was nothing short of fine, and the solidification of Luka and Abby is not only realistic but has taken time to build. Perhaps viewers want instant gratification (i.e., reality shows) and ER doesn't provide that. You have to be willing to watch and understand, and to be patient (pun not intended). Matt, stop bashing a show just because it is a senior citizen. It obviously still has a faithful fan base, as its ratings are not hugely behind that of a so-called juggernaut called Lost (which is more flash than substance). Thanks for your time in reading this."
My response: It's too easy to say ER is being criticized because it's last decade's news. If the show were still vitally entertaining, I think we'd all be able to acknowledge that. Instant gratification is one thing, slogging through weeks of ER characters moping around is another. (Just thinking of the Mekhi Phifer/Danny Glover story line is enough to put me in a coma.) ER is still capable of greatness: think the Ray Liotta or Cynthia Nixon episodes from last season. But usually the greatness comes from the guest patient, not the core cast. Give me Grey's Anatomy (though not recap episodes, please) any day or week. It's not that one is newer and fresher, though that's true enough. Grey's is simply better: more entertaining, more smartly written and engagingly acted. And comparing ER to Lost is pointless. One's a workplace franchise drama, one's a groundbreaking, character-driven adventure/fantasy that has no precedent. I'm amazed Lost does as well as it does, especially when networks throw phenoms like American Idol against it. ER is coasting on its reputation and has been for some time.
